JOHANNESBURG, (Reuters) – South Africa’s labor ministry urged Rio Tinto workers (NYSE:) to file complaints about discrimination following an Anglo-Australian miner’s internal report that detailed sexual assaults, racism and bullying in its mines.

The report https://www.reuters.com/business/rio-tinto-report-finds-disturbing-culture-sexual-harassment-racism-bullying-2022-02-01, which sparked calls from investors for the entire industry to clean up its act, found that male and female Rio Tinto employees in South Africa experienced the highest rates of racism, at 34.5% and 33.8% respectively, compared to workers in other countries.

Rio Tinto employees in South Africa, at 54.1% and 61.6% respectively, were the most bullied, according to a Tuesday report.

In written answers to Reuters questions, the labor ministry stated that it could only encourage the affected parties to make use of the protections of the constitution and EEA to report discrimination cases to the CCMA, Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration.

Rio Tinto spokeswoman said that the company was open to discussing concerns with its employees around the globe and encouraging them to “encourage” their colleagues, leaders or confidentially through the reporting program.

A spokesperson for Rio Tinto reiterated Tuesday’s statements by CEO Jakob Stausholm that he had committed to making Rio Tinto “safe and respectful” and promised that Rio Tinto would follow all 26 recommendations in the report.

Rio Tinto South Africa subsidiary Richards Bay Minerals, extracts and refines heavy minerals sands, produces ilmenite and rutile at the site located in northern KwaZulu-Natal.

Richards Bay Minerals did not immediately respond to our request for comment.

When asked how common racism, sexism and bullying were in South Africa’s mine industry, the ministry stated that “we are certain there are many instances where discrimination is occurring in the labour market generally”.

According to the ministry, however, many affected persons are reluctantly reporting these cases.

“We have to say it’s encouraging that Rio Tinto has conducted this research,” added the labor ministry. They must now take appropriate action to address the results.

When asked about the report by South Africa’s Minerals Council, the Minerals Council stated that it and its members had “reaffirmed their stance of no tolerance for racism and sexism in the mining sector”.